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longitudinal analysis of allergen-specific ige and igg subclasses as potential predictors of insect bite hypersensitivity following first exposure to culicoides in icelandic horses.insect bite hypersensitivity (ibh) is an allergic dermatitis of horses caused by bites of culicoides spp. ibh does not occur in iceland because of the absence of culicoides, but the prevalence is high in horses imported from iceland to environments where culicoides are present.201828980353
schmallenberg virus in culicoides latreille (diptera: ceratopogonidae) populations in france during 2011-2012 outbreak.following the emergence of the schmallenberg virus (sbv) in 2011 in germany and its rapid spread in europe, culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) collected through the french surveillance network were analysed in order to record the presence of virus genome into species diversity collected, to assess the minimum infectious rates (mir) and the virus circulation dynamics in culicoides populations. two vector activity periods were selected (2011, august to october, 53 sites and 2012, june to octobe ...201728815930
evidence of extensive renewed schmallenberg virus circulation in belgium during summer of 2016 - increase in arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly cases expected.a seroprevalence study carried out between june and september 2016 in the belgian sheep population showed a significant increase in overall (from 25% to 62%) and between-herd (from 60% to 96%) seroprevalence against schmallenberg virus (sbv) during this period, indicating the most extensive recirculation of sbv since its original emergence in 2011. sbv recirculation was confirmed by the detection of sbv rna-positive culicoides obsoletus complex midges collected in the region of antwerp in august ...201728474485
indoor and outdoor winter activity of culicoides biting midges, vectors of bluetongue virus, in italy.indoor and outdoor winter activity of culicoides spp. (diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central italy was investigated in order to evaluate whether indoor activity might account for the overwintering of bluetongue virus, as has been hypothesized by some authors. weekly culicoides collections were performed at three farms over three consecutive winter seasons. at each farm, two black-light traps were operated simultaneously, indoors and outdoors. culicoides were identified using both morphological an ...201728833269
molecular phylogeny of 42 species of culicoides (diptera, ceratopogonidae) from three continents.the genus culicoides includes vectors of important animal diseases such as bluetongue and schmallenberg virus (btv and sbv). this genus includes 1300 species classified in 32 subgenera and 38 unclassified species. however, the phylogenetic relationships between different subgenera of culicoides have never been studied. phylogenetic analyses of 42 species belonging to 12 subgenera and 8 ungrouped species of genus culicoides from ecuador, france, gabon, madagascar and tunisia were carried out usin ...201728643630
schmallenberg virus detection in culicoides biting midges in spain: first laboratory evidence for highly efficient infection of culicoides of the obsoletus complex and culicoides imicola.since schmallenberg disease was discovered in 2011, the disease rapidly spread across europe. culicoides biting midges have been implicated as putative schmallenberg vectors in europe. the detection of schmallenberg virus (sbv) in field collected culicoides was evaluated through retrospective (2011-2012) collections and captures performed in 2013. this study represents the first detection of sbv in field collected culicoides in spain. infectious midges were detected at the foothills of pyrenees, ...201728474491
revealing potential bridge vectors for btv and sbv: a study on culicoides blood feeding preferences in natural ecosystems in spain.several species of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are vectors of pathogens, such as the bluetongue (btv) and schmallenberg (sbv) viruses, which cause important diseases in domestic and wild ruminants. as wild ruminants can contribute to overwintering and epizootics of both diseases, knowledge of the host-feeding behaviour of culicoides in natural ecosystems is important to better understand their epidemiology. blood-engorged culicoides females trapped in natural areas inhabited by differe ...201728857265
flight and swarming behaviour of culicoides species (diptera: ceratopogonidae) on a livestock farm in northern spain.the efficacy of sweep nets and a cdc white light-suction trap for the sampling of culicoides species (diptera: ceratopogonidae) were compared on a livestock farm in northern spain during the summer of 2013. a total of 6,082 specimens representing 26 species were collected with sweep nets in 4 areas at di erent heights (ground level, 1.5 m, and 3 m), and 8,463 specimens representing 28 species with a single white light trap. eight species - culicoides brunnicans, culicoides punctatus, culicoides ...201728675253
the dying of the light: crepuscular activity in culicoides and impact on light trap efficacy at temperate latitudes.the light trap is the tool of choice for conducting large-scale culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) vector surveillance programmes. its efficacy is in doubt, however. to assess this, hourly changes in culicoides activity over the 24-h diel were determined comparatively by way of light trapping and aerial sweeping, and correlated against light intensity. in the netherlands, sweeping around cattle at pasture revealed that, in early summer, culicoides are active throughout the diel, and that thei ...201626555116
understanding spatio-temporal variability in the reproduction ratio of the bluetongue (btv-1) epidemic in southern spain (andalusia) in 2007 using epidemic trees.andalusia (southern spain) is considered one of the main routes of introduction of bluetongue virus (btv) into europe, evidenced by a devastating epidemic caused by btv-1 in 2007. understanding the pattern and the drivers of btv-1 spread in andalusia is critical for effective detection and control of future epidemics. a long-standing metric for quantifying the behaviour of infectious diseases is the case-reproduction ratio (rt), defined as the average number of secondary cases arising from a sin ...201626963397
role of different culicoides vectors (diptera: ceratopogonidae) in bluetongue virus transmission and overwintering in sardinia (italy).bluetongue (bt) epidemics have affected the mediterranean island of sardinia since 2000. while culicoides imicola represents the main bluetongue virus (btv) vector, other european culicoides biting midges, possibly implicated in virus transmission, have been detected here. understanding their distribution, seasonal abundance, and infection rates is necessary to predict disease incidence and spread across coastal and inland areas, and to define their role in virus overwintering.201627502924
eco-climatic indicators for three culicoides species of the obsoletus complex in italy.bluetongue, schmallenberg and african horse sickness viruses are transmitted by vectors belonging to the genus culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae). among this genus, species of the obsoletus complex play a crucial role in europe. in italy the complex includes three species: culicoides obsoletus sensu strictu, culicoides scoticus and culicoides montanus. these three sibling species were identified in 80 collection sites across italy through a multiplex pcr test. sixty‑four sites were classified ...201627723029
morphometric discrimination of two sympatric sibling species in the palaearctic region, culicoides obsoletus meigen and c. scoticus downes & kettle (diptera: ceratopogonidae), vectors of bluetongue and schmallenberg viruses.some palaearctic biting midge species (subgenus avaritia) have been implicated as vectors of bluetongue virus in northern europe. separation of two species (c. obsoletus and c. scoticus) is considered difficult morphologically and, often, these female specimens are grouped in entomological studies. however, species-specific identification is desirable to understand their life history characteristics, assess their roles in disease transmission or measure their abundance during arboviral outbreaks ...201627146157
oral administration of transgenic barley expressing a culicoides allergen induces specific antibody response.insect bite hypersensitivity is an immunoglobulin (ig)e-mediated dermatitis of horses initiated by bites of midges of the genus culicoides. culicoides spp. are not indigenous to iceland and the prevalence of insect bite hypersensitivity is much higher in horses born in iceland and exported as compared to icelandic horses born in a culicoides rich environment. immunotherapy is therefore needed.201627859584
the 'culicoides obsoletus group' in italy: relative abundance, geographic range, and role as vector for bluetongue virus.as bluetongue virus (btv) spread in italy following its first incursion in 2000, it soon became apparent that, besides culicoides imicola, additional species of the subgenus avaritia were involved as vectors, namely one or more of the species that belong to the so-called 'culicoides obsoletus group', which comprises c. dewulfi, c. chiopterus, c. obsoletus sensu stricto, c. scoticus and c. montanus; the three last named species are considered generally as forming the obsoletus complex. this study ...201627723032
emergence of culicoides obsoletus group species from farm-associated habitats in germany.biting midges of the genus culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) may transmit several arboviruses to ruminant livestock. the species of the obsoletus group are considered to be among the most important vectors of bluetongue virus (btv) in northern europe. as agricultural environments offer suitable habitats for the development of their immature stages, the emergence of adult culicoides from potential breeding sites was investigated at 20 cattle farms throughout germany in 2012 and 2013. in analy ...201626744290
seasonal dynamics, parity rate, and composition of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) occurring in the vicinity of wild and domestic ruminants in the czech republic.in the light of the emergence of bluetongue and schmallenberg viruses in northern and central europe, an extensive entomological survey within the framework of a bluetongue control program was undertaken from 2008 to 2013 in the czech republic to investigate culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) collected in close proximity of domestic livestock and semiwild ruminants. insects were sampled using cdc black-light suction traps placed overnight near ruminants in farms or in forest gam ...201626701798
some new records of culicoides species (diptera: ceratopogonidae) from iran.biting midges of the genus culicoides act as vectors for important diseases affecting humans and both wild and domestic animals. collection of adult culicoides specimens in the near vicinity of vertebrate hosts is the major part of any bluetongue surveillance plan. there are old records of culicoides species dated from 1963, 1968 and 1975. therefore, it was decided to collect different ceratopogonids members using a light trap.201628032099
can insecticide-treated netting provide protection for equids from culicoides biting midges in the united kingdom?biting midges of the genus culicoides latreille, 1809 (diptera: ceratopogonidae) cause a significant biting nuisance to equines and are responsible for the biological transmission of african horse sickness virus (ahsv). while currently restricted in distribution to sub-saharan africa, ahsv has a history of emergence into southern europe and causes one of the most lethal diseases of horses and other species of equidae. in the event of an outbreak of ahsv, the use of insecticide treated nets (itns ...201526607993
hyaluronidase activity in saliva of european culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae).biting midges of the genus culicoides transmit pathogens of veterinary importance such as bluetongue virus (reoviridae: orbivirus). the saliva of culicoides is known to contain bioactive molecules including peptides and proteins with vasodilatory and immunomodulative properties. in this study, we detected activity of enzyme hyaluronidase in six culicoides species that commonly occur in europe and that are putative vectors of arboviruses. hyaluronidase was present in all species studied, although ...201526487248
allergens in veterinary medicine.allergic diseases in animals are increasingly gaining importance in veterinary practice and as research models. for intradermal testing and allergen immunotherapy, a good knowledge of relevant allergens for the individual species is of great importance. currently, the knowledge about relevant veterinary allergens is based on sensitization rates identified by intradermal testing or serum testing for allergen-specific ige; crude extracts are the basis for most evaluations. only a few studies provi ...201526280544
how do species, population and active ingredient influence insecticide susceptibility in culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) of veterinary importance?culicoides biting midges are biological vectors of internationally important arboviruses of livestock and equines. insecticides are often employed against culicoides as a part of vector control measures, but systematic assessments of their efficacy have rarely been attempted. the objective of the present study is to determine baseline susceptibility of multiple culicoides vector species and populations in europe and africa to the most commonly used insecticide active ingredients. six active ingr ...201526310789
a spatiotemporal model to assess the introduction risk of african horse sickness by import of animals and vectors in france.african horse sickness (ahs) is a major, culicoides-borne viral disease in equines whose introduction into europe could have dramatic consequences. the disease is considered to be endemic in sub-saharan africa. recent introductions of other culicoides-borne viruses (bluetongue and schmallenberg) into northern europe have highlighted the risk that ahs may arrive in europe as well. the aim of our study was to provide a spatiotemporal quantitative risk model of ahs introduction into france. the stu ...201526040321
a comparison of four light traps for collecting culicoides biting midges.epidemiological analyses of vector-associated diseases such as bluetongue (bt), african horse sickness, or epizootic hemorrhagic disease require substantiated data on the species diversity and activity patterns of vector species. to this end, spain and italy implemented extensive culicoides biting midge monitoring programs since 2000, as several other countries did after the arrival of bt in northern europe in 2006. the seasonal occurrence, spatial distribution, and abundance of culicoides speci ...201526358105
orientation behaviour of culicoides obsoletus (diptera: ceratopogonidae), a relevant virus vector in northern europe, toward host-associated odorant cues.some culicoides biting midge species (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are biological virus vectors worldwide and have recently been associated with outbreaks of important epizootic diseases such as bluetongue and schmallenberg in northern europe. these diseases, which affect domestic and wild ruminants, have caused considerable economic losses. knowledge of host preferences of these biting midges - especially of the relevant vectors of arboviruses near farms, such as culicoides obsoletus in northern e ...201526021527
allergen-specific cytokine polarization protects shetland ponies against culicoides obsoletus-induced insect bite hypersensitivity.the immunological mechanisms explaining development of an allergy in some individuals and not in others remain incompletely understood. insect bite hypersensitivity (ibh) is a common, seasonal, ige-mediated, pruritic skin disorder that affects considerable proportions of horses of different breeds, which is caused by bites of the insect culicoides obsoletus (c. obsoletus). we investigated the allergen-specific immune status of individual horses that had either been diagnosed to be healthy or to ...201525901733
economic comparison of the monitoring programmes for bluetongue vectors in austria and switzerland.with the bluetongue virus serotype 8 (btv-8) outbreak in 2006, vector monitoring programmes (according to eu regulation 1266/2007) were implemented by european countries to obtain information on the spatial distribution of vectors and the vector-free period. this study investigates the vector monitoring programmes in austria and switzerland by performing a retrospective cost analysis for the period 2006-2010. two types of costs were distinguished: costs financed directly via the national blueton ...201525841165
local dispersal of palaearctic culicoides biting midges estimated by mark-release-recapture.farm to farm movement of culicoides midges is believed to play a critical role in the spread of bluetongue (bt), schmallenberg and other midge-borne diseases. to help understand and predict the spread of diseases carried by midges, there is a need to determine their dispersal patterns, and to identify factors contributing to the direction taken and distance travelled.201525886488
recombinant culicoides obsoletus complex allergens stimulate antigen-specific t cells of insect bite hypersensitive shetland ponies in vitro.ponies may suffer from insect bite hypersensitivity (ibh), an allergic ige-mediated pruritic skin disorder, induced by allergens from biting midges of the culicoides spp.201526345148
an unrecognized species of the culicoides obsoletus complex feeding on livestock in the netherlands.in studies on culicoides attacking livestock in the netherlands, we chanced upon a species of the obsoletus complex that we do not recognize, but whose dark wing pattern is distinctive. nine cytochrome c oxidase (co1) sequences of our so-called 'dark obsoletus' support its status as a separate species, the sequences differing significantly from those representing culicoides obsoletus (meigen) (90-91% homology) and culicoides scoticus downes & kettle (87-88% homology). in the last decade, several ...201525583356
circadian activity of culicoides oxystoma (diptera: ceratopogonidae), potential vector of bluetongue and african horse sickness viruses in the niayes area, senegal.culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are important vectors of arboviruses in africa. culicoides oxystoma has been recently recorded in the niayes region of senegal (west africa) and its high abundance on horses suggests a potential implication in the transmission of the african horse sickness virus in this region. this species is also suspected to transmit bluetongue virus to imported breeds of sheep. little information is available on the biology and ecology of culicoides in afri ...201526002826
culicoides monitoring in belgium in 2011: analysis of spatiotemporal abundance, species diversity and schmallenberg virus detection.in 2011, culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) were collected at 16 locations covering four regions of belgium with onderstepoort veterinary institute (ovi) traps and at two locations with rothamsted suction traps (rsts). quantification of the collections and morphological identification showed important variations in abundance and species diversity between individual collection sites, even for sites located in the same region. however, consistently higher numbers of culicoides midges were colle ...201525761054
a comparison of commercial light-emitting diode baited suction traps for surveillance of culicoides in northern europe.the response of culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) to artificial light sources has led to the use of light-suction traps in surveillance programmes. recent integration of light emitting diodes (led) in traps improves flexibility in trapping through reduced power requirements and also allows the wavelength of light used for trapping to be customized. this study investigates the responses of culicoides to led light-suction traps emitting different wavelengths of light to make reco ...201525896343
detrimental effect of cypermethrin treated nets on culicoides populations (diptera; ceratopogonidae) and non-targeted fauna in livestock farms.bluetongue (bt) is an important disease of ruminants which exhibits its most severe clinical signs on cattle and especially on certain breeds of sheep. the known vectors of bt are small insects of the genus culicoides (diptera; ceratopogonidae). two species from this genus - culicoides imicola and culicoides obsoletus - play the major role in the transmission of the disease in europe. several prophylactic methods are used to avoid transmission; however, an easy and cost-effective preventive tech ...201424238622
comparison of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and molecular biology techniques for identification of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) biting midges in senegal.biting midges of the genus culicoides are implicated as vectors for a wide variety of pathogens. the morphological identification of these arthropods may be difficult because of a lack of detailed investigation of taxonomy for this species in africa. however, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) profiling is efficient for arthropod identification at the species level. this study established a spectrum database of culicoides spp. from senegal ...201425411169
wing geometry as a tool for discrimination of obsoletus group (diptera: ceratopogonidae: culicoides) in france.in europe, culicoides chiopterus, culicoides dewulfi, culicoides obsoletus and culicoides scoticus, which belongs to the subgenus avaritia and obsoletus group are the most proficient bluetongue and schmallenberg vectors. within this group, correct identification based on morphological traits is difficult but essential to assess disease transmission risk. the development of new tools has revolutionized taxonomy (i.e. geometric morphometrics and molecular biology). wing morphology is of primary im ...201424514019
culicoides midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) as vectors of orbiviruses in slovakia.in recent years, rapid spread of culicoides-borne pathogens such as bluetongue (bt) and schmallenberg viruses have been reported in europe. in this study we examined the culicoides populations in farms with wild and domestic ruminants in eastern slovakia with the aim to confirm the presence of biting midges serving as potential vectors of important pathogens. the main vector complexes were the obsoletus complex (54%; n=4,209) and the pulicaris complex (23%; n=1,796). to estimate the relative abu ...201425273963
factors associated with culicoides obsoletus complex spp.-specific ige reactivity in icelandic horses and shetland ponies.insect bite hypersensitivity (ibh) is a common allergic skin disease in horses, caused by biting insects of the culicoides spp. in the netherlands, culicoides spp. of the obsoletus complex are the most important midges involved in ibh. the aim of the present study was to identify and quantify associations between several endogenous (host) and exogenous (environmental) factors and immunoglobulin e (ige) reactivity against obsoletus complex-derived whole body extract or seven recombinant allergens ...201424881512
laboratory and field evaluations of chemical and plant-derived potential repellents against culicoides biting midges in northern spain.the efficacy of 23 compounds in repelling culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae), particularly culicoides obsoletus (meigen) females, was determined by means of a y-tube olfactometer. the 10 most effective compounds were further evaluated in landing bioassays. the six most promising compounds (including chemical and plant-derived repellents) were evaluated at 10% and 25% concentrations in field assays using centers for disease control (cdc) light traps. at least three compounds show ...201425079042
environmental drivers of culicoides phenology: how important is species-specific variation when determining disease policy?since 2006, arboviruses transmitted by culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) have caused significant disruption to ruminant production in northern europe. the most serious incursions involved strains of bluetongue virus (btv), which cause bluetongue (bt) disease. to control spread of btv, movement of susceptible livestock is restricted with economic and animal welfare impacts. the timing of btv transmission in temperate regions is partly determined by the seasonal presence of adult ...201425386940
culicoides (avaritia) gornostaevae mirzaeva, 1984 (diptera: ceratopogonidae)--a possible vector species of the obsoletus group new to the european fauna.culicoides gornostaevae mirzaeva, 1984, known previously only from siberia, is a boreal species included into the obsoletus group of culicoides sg. avaritia. members of the subgenus can act as vectors of various diseases. in europe they are involved in the transmission of the schmallenberg virus and bluetongue virus.201425270724
feeding behaviour of culicoides spp. (diptera: ceratopogonidae) on cattle and sheep in northeast germany.culicoides spp. play an important role in the transmission of several vector-borne pathogens such as bluetongue and schmallenberg virus in europe. to better understand the biology of local culicoides species, a study divided into three parts was performed in northeast germany to elucidate the feeding activity patterns (study a), preferential landing and feeding sites (study b) and host feeding preferences (study c) of culicoides spp. using cattle and sheep as baits.201424438698
a spatial simulation model for the dispersal of the bluetongue vector culicoides brevitarsis in australia.the spread of bluetongue virus (btv) among ruminants is caused by movement of infected host animals or by movement of infected culicoides midges, the vector of btv. biologically plausible models of culicoides dispersal are necessary for predicting the spread of btv and are important for planning control and eradication strategies.201425105418
full-genome characterisation of orungo, lebombo and changuinola viruses provides evidence for co-evolution of orbiviruses with their arthropod vectors.the complete genomes of orungo virus (oruv), lebombo virus (lebv) and changuinola virus (cglv) were sequenced, confirming that they each encode 11 distinct proteins (vp1-vp7 and ns1-ns4). phylogenetic analyses of cell-attachment protein 'outer-capsid protein 1' (oc1), show that orbiviruses fall into three large groups, identified as: vp2(oc1), in which oc1 is the 2nd largest protein, including the culicoides transmitted orbiviruses; vp3(oc1), which includes the mosquito transmitted orbiviruses; ...201424475112
first detection of endosymbiotic bacteria in biting midges culicoides pulicaris and culicoides punctatus, important palaearctic vectors of bluetongue virus.heritable bacteria have been highlighted as important components of vector biology, acting as required symbionts with an anabolic role, altering competence for disease transmission, and affecting patterns of gene flow by altering cross compatibility. in this paper, we tested eight u.k. species of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) midge for the presence of five genera of endosymbiotic bacteria: cardinium (bacteroidales: bacteroidaceae); wolbachia (rickettsiales: rickettsiaceae); spiroplasma ( ...201424612104
assessment of an immunomarking technique for the study of dispersal of culicoides biting midges.capture-mark-recapture techniques are used to determine the dispersal and survival of arthropods, including vector groups such as culicoides. an assumption of these studies is that capture and the subsequent marking process does not impact of the survival and behaviour of the marked individual. the small size of culicoides means that a significant mortality and disruption of normal behaviour such as host-location can be caused by the process of collection. here we evaluate a technique, novel to ...201424480050
sensitivity of culicoides obsoletus (meigen) (diptera: ceratopogonidae) to deltamethrin determined by an adapted who standard susceptibility test.bluetongue is a disease of major economic concern in europe. its causative agent, bluetongue virus (btv), is transmitted by several culicoides species (mainly culicoides imicola and culicoides obsoletus in europe). the application of insecticides on animals may reduce transmission of btv, however, no formulation is currently licensed specifically against culicoides midges. the present study assesses the susceptibility of c. obsoletus to deltamethrin using an adapted world health organization (wh ...201424476573
culicoides biting midge density in relation to the position and substrate temperature in a cattle dung heap.dung heaps offer warm breeding sites, which might be suitable for a continuing development or even emergence at low air temperatures in winter. therefore, this study collected substrate samples from the outer surface and core of a cattle dung heap at the beginning of the winter period. we aimed to analyze the density of immature culicoides in relation to substrate position and temperature. we took samples from the outer layer and core of the dung heap at different heights. floatation was used to ...201425339512
community analysis of biting midges (culicoides latr.) on livestock farms in denmark.this study presents descriptive statistics and community analysis of adult biting midges trapped at 16 livestock farms by means of light traps on zealand and lolland-falster, denmark. a total of 9,047 male and female culicoides divided into 24 species, were caught. biotic and abiotic factors ranging from presence of different host species (cattle or sheep/goats), presence of small woody areas or wetlands in the surrounding landscape, and agricultural practice (organic or conventional) were inclu ...201425326377
susceptibility of culicoides species biting midges to deltamethrin-treated nets as determined under laboratory and field conditions in the balearic islands, spain.culicoides latreille (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are vectors of several arboviruses, including bluetongue virus (btv) and african horse sickness virus (ahsv), which cause diseases in, respectively, sheep and cattle, and horses, and have economic repercussions mainly as a result of trade restrictions. insecticides can be used to reduce vector populations and hence the spread of disease. despite the economic importance of these diseases, relatively few studies have evaluated the efficacy of commerc ...201424890642
towards the pcr-based identification of palaearctic culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae): results from an international ring trial targeting four species of the subgenus avaritia.biting midges of the genus culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are biological vectors of internationally important arboviruses. to understand the role of culicoides in the transmission of these viruses, it is essential to correctly identify the species involved. within the western palaearctic region, the main suspected vector species, c. obsoletus, c. scoticus, c. dewulfi and c. chiopterus, have similar wing patterns, which makes it difficult to separate and identify them correctly.201424884950
barcoding of biting midges in the genus culicoides: a tool for species determination.biting midges of the genus culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are insect vectors of economically important veterinary diseases such as african horse sickness virus and bluetongue virus. however, the identification of culicoides based on morphological features is difficult. the sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit i (coi), referred to as dna barcoding, has been proposed as a tool for rapid identification to species. hence, a study was undertaken to establish dna barcodes for ...201323106166
cloning and expression of candidate allergens from culicoides obsoletus for diagnosis of insect bite hypersensitivity in horses.insect bite hypersensitivity (ibh) is an ige-mediated (type i) hypersensitivity reaction induced by allergens from biting midges of the culicoides spp. the aim of the present study was to identify, clone and express recombinant allergens from c. obsoletus, the main species found feeding on horses in the netherlands, by sequence homology searches on the c. obsoletus specific rna database, with previously described allergens from c. nubeculosus and c. sonorensis. blast searches with these describe ...201323561552
a survey of biting midges of the genus culicoides latreille, 1809 (diptera: ceratopogonidae) in ne bulgaria, with respect to transmission of avian haemosporidians.this study presents data from a molecular survey of the species of the genus culicoides from the region of kalimok field station (ne bulgaria) and haemosporidian parasites occurring in them in order to investigate the host-parasite specificity of haemosporidians to their dipteran vectors. the identification of culicoides spp. was carried out by morphological and molecular-genetic methods. we collected and analysed 230 individuals of the genus culicoides. nine species were found. eight species we ...201324338323
first report of schmallenberg virus infection in cattle and midges in poland.two outbreaks of schmallenberg virus (sbv) infection that coincided with the introduction of two bulls imported from france into two herds located in west pomerania and silesia provinces in poland are described in detail. the first sbv real-time rt-pcr-positive result was obtained during routine testing of one of the imported bulls. the second bull and the affected farms were tracked by further investigation. transmission of sbv into polish cattle herds where the bulls were imported was confirme ...201323331471
schmallenberg virus in italy: a retrospective survey in culicoides stored during the bluetongue italian surveillance program.following the first case of schmallenberg (sbv) in northern italy in february 2012, virus detection was conducted on midges collected during the national entomological surveillance program for bluetongue (bt). six cattle farms, within a radius of 50 km from the sbv case, were selected for a 12 month study, aiming to determine when the virus entered the area, if it was capable of overwintering, and the possible role played by each species of the obsoletus complex in disseminating the infection. a ...201323791122
a survey of culicoides developmental sites on a farm in northern spain, with a brief review of immature habitats of european species.culicoides species (diptera: ceratopogonidae) belonging to the obsoletus and pulicaris groups are considered to be the main vectors of bluetongue virus (btv) in non mediterranean europe. selected terrestrial microhabitats (n=17) on a farm in northern spain were sampled repeatedly over a year-long period and characterized for use by culicoides species for immature development. concurrent use of cdc light traps showed the presence of 37 species and 66,575 specimens of adult culicoides. a total of ...201322999100
host preferences of palaearctic culicoides biting midges: implications for transmission of orbiviruses.feeding success depends on host availability, host defensive reactions and host preferences. host choice is a critical determinant of the intensity at which pathogens are transmitted. the aim of the current study was to describe host preferences of palaearctic culicoides species (diptera: ceratopogonidae) latreille using traps baited with the five different host species of poultry, horse, cattle, sheep and goat. collections were carried out nightly in july and august 2009 in western france with ...201322985009
chemical composition of silage residues sustaining the larval development of the culicoides obsoletus/culicoides scoticus species (diptera: ceratopogonidae).culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are biological vectors of bluetongue virus (btv). bluetongue is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants. since its recent emergence in northern europe, this disease has caused considerable economic losses to the sheep and cattle industry. the biotopes, and more particularly the chemical characteristics which are suitable for larval development of the main vector species, are still relatively unknown. this study shows that the larvae of bitin ...201322963713
measurement of the infection and dissemination of bluetongue virus in culicoides biting midges using a semi-quantitative rt-pcr assay and isolation of infectious virus.culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are the biological vectors of globally significant arboviruses of livestock including bluetongue virus (btv), african horse sickness virus (ahsv) and the recently emerging schmallenberg virus (sbv). from 2006-2009 outbreaks of btv in northern europe inflicted major disruption and economic losses to farmers and several attempts were made to implicate palaearctic culicoides species as vectors. results from these studies were difficult to interpre ...201323940643
bluetongue disease risk assessment based on observed and projected culicoides obsoletus spp. vector densities.bluetongue is an arboviral disease of ruminants causing significant economic losses. our risk assessment is based on the epidemiological key parameter, the basic reproduction number. it is defined as the number of secondary cases caused by one primary case in a fully susceptible host population, in which values greater than one indicate the possibility, i.e., the risk, for a major disease outbreak. in the course of the bluetongue virus serotype 8 (btv-8) outbreak in europe in 2006 we developed s ...201323560090
evaluating the protective efficacy of a trivalent vaccine containing akabane virus, aino virus and chuzan virus against schmallenberg virus infection.schmallenberg virus (sbv), an arthropod borne pathogen, spread rapidly throughout the majority of europe since 2011. it can cause a febrile disease, milk drop, diarrhea, and fetal malformation in ruminants. sbv, a member of the simbu serogroup within the genus orthobunyavirus, is closely related to akabane virus (akav) and aino virus (ainov) among others. in the present study, 4 holstein-friesian calves were immunized twice four weeks apart with a multivalent, inactivated vaccine against akav an ...201324313924
the range of attraction for light traps catching culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae).culicoides are vectors of e.g. bluetongue virus and schmallenberg virus in northern europe. light trapping is an important tool for detecting the presence and quantifying the abundance of vectors in the field. until now, few studies have investigated the range of attraction of light traps.201323497628
detection of the schmallenberg virus in nulliparous culicoides obsoletus/scoticus complex and c. punctatus--the possibility of transovarial virus transmission in the midge population and of a new vector.the arthropod-borne schmallenberg virus (sbv) emerged in europe in the late summer/autumn of 2011. sbv spread across the continent until 2012. this paper presents sbv detection in female culicoides spp. caught in uv traps located in 23 different locations in poland. the midges were divided into pools containing 20.5 individual insects on average according to species and parity status. the study was based on duplex real-time reverse transcription pcr (rt-pcr) for the detection of the sbv s segmen ...201323928121
does covering of farm-associated culicoides larval habitat reduce adult populations in the united kingdom?culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are the biological vectors of a range of internationally important arboviruses of livestock, including bluetongue virus (btv) and the recently emerging schmallenberg virus (sbv). culicoides species in the subgenus avaritia (in the uk: culicoides obsoletus meigen, culicoides scoticus downes & kettle, culicoides dewulfi goetghebuer and culicoides chiopterus meigen) have been implicated in btv transmission in northern europe and to a varying degre ...201324472769
comparative study of antennal and maxillary palp olfactory sensilla of female biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae: culicoides) in the context of host preference and phylogeny.culicoides biting midges (diptera ceratopogonidae) are vectors of disease, including bluetongue and african horse sickness. host preference of these insects is primarily regulated by olfactory cues, detected by olfactory sensilla on the antennae and maxillary palps. in this study, we analyzed the sensillum repertoire of biting midge species with known host preferences. five different morphological sensillum types, sensilla trichodea, s. chaetica, s. ampullacea, s. coeloconica, and grooved peg se ...201323802442
urban forests as hubs for novel zoonosis: blood meal analysis, seasonal variation in culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) vectors, and avian haemosporidians.culicoides vectors can transmit a diverse array of parasites and are globally distributed. we studied feeding preferences and seasonal variation of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) vectors in an urban forest of germany to determine whether humans living nearby are readily exposed to vector-borne parasites from wild animals. we used a fragment of the mtdna coi gene to identify hosts from blood meals. we amplified a fragment of the mtdna cyt b to detect haemosporidian infections in culicoides ...201323981661
characterizing the species composition of european culicoides vectors by means of the köppen-geiger climate classification.biting midges of the genus culicoides spp. (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are vectors for the bluetongue virus, the african horse sickness virus and the recently emerged schmallenberg virus. here, species of the c. obsoletus complex, the c. pulicaris complex and c. imicola were considered. the objective was to compile a map of these culicoides species and their relation to the popular climate classification defined by wladimir köppen and rudolf geiger to provide a quick view on the species compositi ...201324267276
spatio-temporal optimization of sampling for bluetongue vectors (culicoides) near grazing livestock.estimating the abundance of culicoides using light traps is influenced by a large variation in abundance in time and place. this study investigates the optimal trapping strategy to estimate the abundance or presence/absence of culicoides on a field with grazing animals. we used 45 light traps to sample specimens from the culicoides obsoletus species complex on a 14 hectare field during 16 nights in 2009.201323705770
seasonal differences in cytokine expression in the skin of shetland ponies suffering from insect bite hypersensitivity.insect bite hypersensitivity (ibh) in horses is a seasonal, ige-mediated, pruritic skin disorder primarily caused by culicoides spp. we hypothesize that a mixed th2/th1-type immune status, off season, alters into th2-dominated immune reactivity in the skin of ibh-affected ponies in the ibh season. to study these immune response patterns culicoides-specific ige levels, skin histopathology and cytokine and transcription factor mrna expression (il4, il10, il13, ifnγ, foxp3 and cd3(ζ)) in lesional a ...201323219157
culicoides obsoletus extract relevant for diagnostics of insect bite hypersensitivity in horses.insect bite hypersensitivity (ibh) is an allergic dermatitis in horses caused by the bites of culicoides species. the aim of the present study was to evaluate the applicability of whole body extracts of c. obsoletus (the main species found feeding on horses in the netherlands), c. nubeculosus (rarely found in the netherlands) and c. sonorensis (typical for north america) for diagnosis of ibh in horses in the netherlands. blood and serum samples of 10 clinically confirmed ibh affected and 10 heal ...201222906994
identity and diversity of blood meal hosts of biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae: culicoides latreille) in denmark.host preference studies in haematophagous insects e.g. culicoides biting midges are pivotal to assess transmission routes of vector-borne diseases and critical for the development of veterinary contingency plans to identify which species should be included due to their risk potential. species of culicoides have been found in almost all parts of the world and known to live in a variety of habitats. several parasites and viruses are transmitted by culicoides biting midges including bluetongue viru ...201222824422
rna interference targets arbovirus replication in culicoides cells.arboviruses are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by biting arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and midges. these viruses replicate in both arthropods and vertebrates and are thus exposed to different antiviral responses in these organisms. rna interference (rnai) is a sequence-specific rna degradation mechanism that has been shown to play a major role in the antiviral response against arboviruses in mosquitoes. culicoides midges are important vectors of arboviruses, known to transmit pat ...201223269795
investigation of diel activity of culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) in the united kingdom by using a vehicle-mounted trap.truck trap collections of culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) were made during 2 yr of sampling from 2008 to 2009 at a farm site in southern england. samples were collected from 810 sample runs carried out over 52 d and contained 7,095 culicoides of which more than half (50.3%) were identified as culicoides obsoletus meigen by using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay. other commonly encountered species included culicoides scoticus downes & kettle (14.7% of total culicoid ...201222679886
host-seeking activity of bluetongue virus vectors: endo/exophagy and circadian rhythm of culicoides in western europe.feeding success of free-living hematophagous insects depends on their ability to be active when hosts are available and to reach places where hosts are accessible. when the hematophagous insect is a vector of pathogens, determining the components of host-seeking behavior is of primary interest for the assessment of transmission risk. our aim was to describe endo/exophagy and circadian host-seeking activity of palaearctic culicoides species, which are major biting pests and arbovirus vectors, usi ...201223144735
why did bluetongue spread the way it did? environmental factors influencing the velocity of bluetongue virus serotype 8 epizootic wave in france.understanding where and how fast an infectious disease will spread during an epidemic is critical for its control. however, the task is a challenging one as numerous factors may interact and drive the spread of a disease, specifically when vector-borne diseases are involved. we advocate the use of simultaneous autoregressive models to identify environmental features that significantly impact the velocity of disease spread. we illustrate this approach by exploring several environmental factors in ...201222916249
genetic characterization and molecular identification of the bloodmeal sources of the potential bluetongue vector culicoides obsoletus in the canary islands, spain.culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) biting midges are vectors for a diversity of pathogens including bluetongue virus (btv) that generate important economic losses. btv has expanded its range in recent decades, probably due to the expansion of its main vector and the presence of other autochthonous competent vectors. although the canary islands are still free of bluetongue disease (btd), spain and europe have had to face up to a spread of bluetongue with disastrous consequences. therefore, it ...201222827913
bluetongue virus serotype 1 outbreak in the basque country (northern spain) 2007-2008. data support a primary vector windborne transport.bluetongue (bt) is a vector-borne disease of ruminants that has expanded its traditional global distribution in the last decade. recently, btv-1 emerged in southern spain and caused several outbreaks in livestock reaching the north of the country. the aim of this paper was to review the emergence of btv-1 in the basque country (northern spain) during 2007 and 2008 analyzing the possibility that infected culicoides were introduced into basque country by winds from the infected areas of southern s ...201222479628
monitoring bluetongue virus vectors in andalusia (sw europe): culicoides species composition and factors affecting capture rates of the biting midge culicoides imicola.in this work, we summarize the results of captures of culicoides species in andalusia (s spain) during 2007-2008. four out of the 15 midge species-culicoides imicola, culicoides obsoletus complex, culicoides pulicaris complex, and culicoides nubeculosus-accounted for 80.7 % of captures (n = 68,190). captures were seasonal and mostly occurred in may-november. the overall number of culicoides specimens captured and the mean number of caught per trap were higher in 2007. we used an information-theo ...201222610444
a review of african horse sickness and its implications for ireland.african horse sickness is an economically highly important non-contagious but infectious orbivirus disease that is transmitted by various species of culicoides midges. the equids most severely affected by the virus are horses, ponies, and european donkeys; mules are somewhat less susceptible, and african donkeys and zebra are refractory to the devastating consequences of infection. in recent years, bluetongue virus, an orbivirus similar to african horse sickness, which also utilises culicoides s ...201222553991
drosophila melanogaster as a model organism for bluetongue virus replication and tropism.bluetongue virus (btv) is the etiological agent of bluetongue (bt), a hemorrhagic disease of ruminants that can cause high levels of morbidity and mortality. btv is an arbovirus transmitted between its ruminant hosts by culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae). recently, europe has experienced some of the largest bt outbreaks ever recorded, including areas with no known history of the disease, leading to unprecedented economic and animal welfare issues. the current lack of genomic res ...201222674991
the influence of host number on the attraction of biting midges, culicoides spp., to light traps.a preliminary study was undertaken to investigate how the number of sheep below a light-suction trap affects the number of female culicoides obsoletus meigen (diptera: ceratopogonidae) caught. as the number of sheep increased from zero to three, the number of midges caught increased, but there appeared to be no further increase when six sheep were used. the lack of increase between three and six sheep is attributable to different activity rates on certain nights, perhaps in response to weather, ...201120704653
morphological and molecular identification of species of the obsoletus group (diptera: ceratopogonidae) in scandinavia.after the introduction of bluetongue in northern europe in 2006, populations of culicoides have been monitored in many european countries. large quantities of culicoides specimens shall be determined to species, and it is thus important to find reliable morphological characters that are visualized in a stereomicroscope. culicoides obsoletus, culicoides scoticus, culicoides chiopterus, and culicoides dewulfi all belonging to subgenus avaritia are common in collections in northern europe. c. obsol ...201121461726
laboratory and field-based tests of deltamethrin insecticides against adult culicoides biting midges.bluetongue virus (btv) is an economically important arbovirus of ruminants transmitted by culicoides biting midges. vector control using residual spraying or application to livestock is recommended by many authorities to reduce btv transmission; however, the impact of these measures in terms of both inflicting mortality on culicoides and subsequently upon btv transmission is unclear. this study consisted of a standardized world health organization laboratory assay to determine the susceptibility ...201121485373
assessment of vector/host contact: comparison of animal-baited traps and uv-light/suction trap for collecting culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae), vectors of orbiviruses.abstract:201121707980
emergence of culicoides obsoletus from indoor and outdoor breeding sites.culicoides obsoletus (diptera: ceratopogondae) is considered as the probable main vector of bluetongue virus (btv) in northern europe. its breeding sites are poorly documented at the present time. we report numerous emergences of c. obsoletus s. str. from soil samples collected in two holdings between august and september 2010. specimens were collected regularly in the laboratory during 80days. in one holding, 1584 c. obsoletus midges emerged from used litter collected inside a dairy cow buildin ...201121840126
simultaneous quantification of the relative abundance of species complex members: application to culicoides obsoletus and culicoides scoticus (diptera: ceratopogonidae), potential vectors of bluetongue virus.the two sympatric sibling species culicoides obsoletus (meigen) and culicoides scoticus downes and kettle (diptera: ceratopogonidae), are known to be competent vectors for bluetongue virus in the palaearctic region. however, morphological identification of constituent species is only readily applicable to adult males and these two species distinguishing traits have overlapping character states. as their vector competence may differ in space and time, the correct identification and quantification ...201121715095
phenology and attraction of potential culicoides vectors of bluetongue virus in basque country (northern spain).bluetongue virus is transmitted by culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae). culicoides associated with livestock were captured using cdc blacklight traps at three btv-infected farms in basque country between november 2007 and december 2008. twenty-seven and nineteen culicoides species were collected in outdoor and indoor habitats respectively. indoor insect community represented 86.1% of the whole captured individual biting midges. culicoides obsoletus/culicoides scoticus (two siblin ...201122137350
Impacts of climate, host and landscape factors on Culicoides species in Scotland.Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) vector a wide variety of internationally important arboviral pathogens of livestock and represent a widespread biting nuisance. This study investigated the influence of landscape, host and remotely-sensed climate factors on local abundance of livestock-associated species in Scotland, within a hierarchical generalized linear model framework. The Culicoides obsoletus group and the Culicoides pulicaris group accounted for 56% and 41%, respectively ...201122103842
Seasonal dynamics of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides), the potential vectors of bluetongue virus, in Sweden.The outbreak of bluetongue (BT) in northern Europe 2006 initiated the monitoring of vectors, biting midges of the genus Culicoides in Sweden. In order to determine the diversity, distribution and seasonal dynamics of Culicoides, weekly collections were made during 2008 and during March-December 2009 using the Ondestepoort Veterinary Institute black light trap. Twenty sampling sites were selected in 12 provinces. In total of 30,704 Culicoides were collected in 2008 and 32,252 in 2009. The most ab ...201121944873
Quantifying the spatial dependence of Culicoides midge samples collected by Onderstepoort-type blacklight traps: an experimental approach to infer the range of attraction of light traps.The emergence of bluetongue disease in Europe has led several countries to rapidly establish large-scale entomological surveys of its vectors, which are midges belonging to the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). These surveys have largely been based on the use of Onderstepoort-type blacklight traps. However, the range of attraction of the traps and the spatial dependence of the samples they provide are unknown, which somewhat complicates subsequent analyses. This paper ...201122098421
quantitative assessment of the probability of bluetongue virus overwintering by horizontal transmission: application to germany.abstract: even though bluetongue virus (btv) transmission is apparently interrupted during winter, bluetongue outbreaks often reappear in the next season (overwintering). several mechanisms for btv overwintering have been proposed, but to date, their relative importance remain unclear. in order to assess the probability of btv overwintering by persistence in adult vectors, ruminants (through prolonged viraemia) or a combination of both, a quantitative risk assessment model was developed. further ...201121314966
suggesting synonymies? comments on kiehl et al. (2009) "the european vectors of bluetongue virus: are there species complexes, single species or races in culicoides obsoletus and c. pulicaris detectable by sequencing its-1, its-2 and 18s-rdna?".species recognition and identification are crucial in any biological studies, especially when dealing with insect species involved in pathogen transmission. in recent years, molecular approaches have helped the clarification of systematic schemes and taxonomic status. kiehl et al. (parasitol res 105:331-336, 2009) used molecular data to discuss the taxonomic status of biting midge species in the palaearctic region. in the present work, the statements that "[thus] there is no molecular support fo ...201020512587
contribution to the knowledge of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) host preferences in france.knowledge on host-feeding pattern of blood-sucking insects helps to understand the epidemiology of a vector-born disease. we determined blood meal origin from blood-fed culicoides thanks to molecular techniques. a set of primers was used to selectively amplify segment of vertebrates' prepronociceptin gene from abdomen of engorged culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae). vertebrate dna was successfully amplified in 91% of blood-fed culicoides assayed. direct sequencing and comparison of resultant s ...201020967462
molecular identification of bloodmeals from biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae: culicoides latreille) in denmark.culicoides vectors are critical to the survival and transmission of bluetongue virus as infection only occurs in areas or regions where competent vectors are present. the success of culicoides biting midges as vectors is mainly related to their vast population sizes and to their means of dispersal. their choice of host for blood feeding is sparsely described. the aim of the present study was to establish methods for the identification of bloodmeal hosts and determine the identity and diversity o ...201020978788
monitoring of biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae: culicoides latreille) on farms in sweden during the emergence of the 2008 epidemic of bluetongue.in light of the emergence of bluetongue in northern europe, populations of culicoides species were monitored in 2007-2008 by means of onderstepoort blacklight suction traps operating at livestock farms in sweden. the location of the 22 sampling sites ranged from about latitude 55 degrees n to about 68 degrees n. a total of 61,669 male and female culicoides were captured, of which, 52,319 were trapped outside the farms and 9,350 in byres or livestock sheds. thirty-three culicoides species were re ...201020174825
field studies on culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) activity and response to deltamethrin applications to sheep in northeastern spain.an enclosure trapping experiment compared numbers and engorgement of culicoides spp. taken from treated sheep (7.5% deltamethrin) to culicoides from untreated sheep. attack rates were low (0.2/min), but 58% of culicoides obsoletus s.l. and 67% of culicoides parroti kieffer engorged on untreated sheep, and no engorgement occurred on treated sheep on 0 and 4 d posttreatment. a uv light trap in a livestock barn collected eight culicoides spp. (510 individuals), dominated by c. obsoletus (meigen) (6 ...201020180316
evaluation of housing as a means to protect cattle from culicoides biting midges, the vectors of bluetongue virus.the housing of animals at night was investigated as a possible means of protecting them from attack by culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae), the vectors of bluetongue. light-trap catches of culicoides were compared inside and outside animal housing, in the presence and absence of cattle. a three-replicate, 4 x 4 latin square design was used at four farms in bala, north wales, over 12 nights in may and june 2007, and the experiment repeated in october. in the two studies, respectiv ...201020377730
discrimination of culicoides obsoletus and culicoides scoticus, potential bluetongue vectors, by morphometrical and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit i analysis.biting midges of the culicoides obsoletus meigen species complex (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are increasingly suspected as vectors of the recent emergence of bluetongue virus in europe. within this complex, identification of the c. obsoletus and culicoides scoticus females is considered as difficult or sometimes not possible while the identification of males is easy, based on genitalia observation. nolan et al. (2007) concluded that the distinction of c. obsoletus and c. scoticus females is not p ...201020381646
biotic and abiotic factors influencing distribution and abundance of culicoides obsoletus group (diptera: ceratopogonidae) in central italy.in the framework of a bluetongue surveillance program including clinical, serological, and entomological activities, culicoides biting midges were light trapped weekly in two regions of central italy, lazio and tuscany. in the period january 2002 through december 2005, 3,944 collections were carried out in 189 trap sites distributed in all the provinces of the two regions. abundance data of c. obsoletus group were analyzed in relation to trap site altitude, distance from the sea, land use, and n ...201020496577
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